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It’s time for some Tuesday Jets Whispers from Jets Confidential publisher Dan Leberfeld. Just the good stuff. Let’s jump into it . . .
There was no malicious intent, and he meant no harm, but the way Todd Bowles couched the organization’s philosophy about Ryan Fitzpatrick’s left thumb injury puts the quarterback in a tough spot.
Bowles was asked if Fitzpatrick could play on Sunday.
“It’s possible, depending on his pain level (tolerance),” Bowles said.
Bowles was asked a similar follow-up question, phrased a little differently, and said, “There’s a chance he could play Sunday, but again, it’s all according to his pain tolerance,” Bowles said. “We’ll try to get him some snaps on Wednesday and Thursday and see.”
I hate to say it, because the coach meant no harm, but this puts Fitz in a tough spot.
After the coach said this, if he doesn’t play, people might question his toughness. It could make some think he doesn’t have much pain tolerance.
Fitzpatrick is very tough, and will do everything in his power to try and play.
He knows this is a unique situation for him in what has been a long NFL journey, filled with many stops of average or below average team.
This is the best team he’s been on, with a coordinator he loves, and they have a chance to make the playoffs.
I’m sure he will take a Toradol shot, or whatever it takes, to play.
The question is all about ball security.
The guy I saw the other day in the locker room, could not grip anything with his left thumb. That is a fumble waiting to happen.
Perhaps as the weeks goes it, this will improve.
We shall see.
But nobody should question his toughness (which Bowles isn’t doing).
If he can make this work, he will . . .
Willie Colon had a rough game in Oakland.
Denico Autry gave him fits.
His knee is in bad shape.
He’s as tough as they come, but you have to wonder how much longer he can make this work.
Clearly he realizes this is likely his last year, and wants to finish up on a strong note.
But he’s a massive guy – very top heavy – and the weight is putting a lot of stress on his surgical knee.
I don’t think he should be benched like the other guy I mentioned. This line has very good continuity and Breno Giacomini and Nick Mangold are more comfortable playing with Colon than Brian Winters. They like Winters, but they are just more on the same page with Willie.
But this is all about the knee.
Like I told you last week, he was limping on the field in New England running on the field for a series.
This is a situation we need to keep a close eye on . . .
I was a little surprised to see Brandon Marshall on Showtime this week. With knee, toe and ankle injuries, he needs a ton of physical therapy.
This was a good week to take off from the show and to camp out in the Jets’ training room.
Also the thing players like to do on off-days is get off their feet as much as possible, to rest their legs. So traveling into Manhattan on the off-day is far from ideal.
I’m not saying he didn’t get treatment. Of course he did.
The guys does work hard and is diligent about this body.
But this Showtime deal is bad news to me.
Wait until you retire, and then do the broadcast thing. It’s clear he’s very talented at it and a big name, so he will land a major gig.
But to do a show as active player, that requires a weekly commitment on the all-important rest and rehab day of NFL Tuesdays, is far from ideal.
The Bears got tired of it.
November 3, 2015
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Tuesday.
